In the first 10 years of the National High School Invitational, the winner of arguably the toughest prep baseball tournament in the country has never gone on to be crowned a national champion by MaxPreps. However, this year, Corona (Calif.) seems to be breaking that trend. They won four straight games at the event in Cary, N.C., including three games by shutout, defeating the defending tournament champion and blanking the team that has won a record three NHSI titles in the championship game. As a result, the Panthers return to No. 1 in this week’s MaxPreps Top 25. Their victories included an 8-0 win over perennial contender Puyallup and a 2-0 shutout of Trinity Christian Academy, which was ranked No. 10 in last week’s MaxPreps Top 25.
Corona’s win over Orange Lutheran was significant for their rankings, especially since the Lancers had previously defeated them in the Prep Baseball Report championship game. This victory, along with their participation in several tough tournaments, including the NHSI, positions Corona as a strong contender in the upcoming Southern Section Division 1 tournament. Their previous success in reaching the semifinals last year makes them a favorite in the tournament.
The team led by head coach Andy Wise has the option to participate in the Southern California regional tournament if they meet the qualifications.
Corona moved to the No. 1 spot with the help of two losses by last week’s top team, Central from Phenix City, Alabama.
Trinity Christian Academy, Granada (Livermore, Calif.), and Wesleyan Christian Academy have all dropped out of the top rankings, with Trinity Christian Academy at No. 10, Granada at No. 24, and Wesleyan Christian Academy at No. 25.
The newest additions to the rankings are No. 21 Grapevine from Texas, No. 22 Barbe from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and No. 23 Lincoln-Way West from New Lenox, Illinois.
The Game of the Week featured an exciting matchup between Corona and Huntington Beach, with Corona coming out on top with a 6-5 victory. The Panthers showed great determination, rallying with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning during the semifinals of the NHSI. Josh Springer’s single drove in the tying run, and Brian Carlson’s fly ball to centerfield brought home Seth Hernandez for the winning run.
Here’s a game you’ll want to keep an eye on: Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.) will be facing off against North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.). The Eagles started the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25, but they’ve had a tough time with five losses. Despite this, Stoneman Douglas is still in the rankings and has the opportunity to move back up if they can secure wins against North Broward Prep (ranked No. 5) and Doral Academy (ranked No. 8) this week. Keep an eye on this game as it could have an impact on their postseason rankings.
Seth Hernandez has been named Player of the Week after an outstanding performance in the championship game of the NHSI, earning him the title of MVP of the tournament. Additionally, he played a crucial role in the semifinal win over Huntington Beach by scoring the winning run.
Eaton (Colo.) is currently on a 53-game win streak and has a perfect 12-0 record after adding three wins last week.
MaxPreps Top 25 baseball rankings
1. Corona (Calif.)
Corona (Calif.) had an impressive record of 19-2 last week, securing victories against Puyallup, Trinity Christian Academy, Huntington Beach, and Orange Lutheran. Ethan Schiefelbein was named Hitter of the Week for his stellar performance in the tournament, while Seth Hernandez pitched a remarkable seven innings for the win over Orange Lutheran. Their next game is scheduled for Monday against Centennial.
2. Catholic-B.R. (Baton Rouge, La.)
Catholic-B.R. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has an impressive record of 32-2. Last week, they secured some big wins, including a 16-0 and 11-1 victory over Scotlandville, as well as a 10-0 and 12-1 win against Zachary. Andrew Clapinski was named hitter of the week after an outstanding performance, going 5-for-6 with two home runs, a double, and 11 RBI. Pitcher of the week, Cohen LeBlanc, delivered a strong performance in a 16-0 win, giving up just one hit and striking out eight batters in three innings. Next up for Catholic-B.R. is a game against Central on Monday and a matchup against Barbe on Friday.
3. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.)
Jackson Prep in Jackson, Mississippi had a record of 29-2 last week and defeated Hartfield Academy with scores of 9-0, 5-1, and 10-2. The hitter of the week was Tre’ Bryant, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI in the 9-0 win. The pitcher of the week was Konnor Griffin, who gave up no runs on two hits with eight strikeouts in the 9-0 win. Their next game is on Tuesday against Presbyterian Christian.
4. Flower Mound (Texas)
Flower Mound (Texas) has a record of 26-3 and is currently ranked 5th. They recently defeated Coppell with scores of 3-0 and 7-0, as well as Byron Nelson with a score of 9-8. Adrian Rodriguez was named hitter of the week for going 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI against Byron Nelson. Josh Glaser was named pitcher of the week for allowing only two hits in a 3-0 shutout, striking out five and walking none. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday against Plano East.
5. North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.)
North Broward Prep, located in Coconut Creek, Florida, currently holds a 17-2 record and was ranked 6th last week. In their recent games, they defeated Palm Beach Central 5-1, Coral Springs Charter 3-0, and Trinity Christian Academy 7-3. Andrew Cutler was named hitter of the week after going 3-for-3 with two RBI against Palm Beach Central, and Nate Hernandez was named pitcher of the week after pitching five innings, giving up no runs on one hit, and striking out four in the 3-0 win. Their next game will be on Tuesday against Stoneman Douglas.
6. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Archbishop Moeller from Cincinnati, Ohio is currently 11-0 and ranked 8th last week. They have had some impressive wins, including defeating St. Xavier, St. Edward, St. Ignatius, and Northville. Carter Christeson had a standout performance going 3-for-4 with an RBI against St. Ignatius, while Zion Theophilus gave up only one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings against St. Xavier. Their next game is on Monday against Elder.
7. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Calvary Christian from Clearwater, Florida has a record of 17-1 and was ranked 9th last week. They defeated Bishop McLaughlin Catholic 8-1 and Venice 3-1. Hitter of the week was Maximus Mayes who went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, and three RBI against Bishop McLaughlin. Pitcher of the week was Grayson Gibson who pitched four innings, gave up no runs on no hits, and had four strikeouts in the 8-1 win. Their next game is on Monday against Pinellas Park.
8. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Doral Academy in Doral, Florida had a record of 20-1 last week and moved up to the 11th spot. They defeated South Broward 12-0 and American Heritage 7-6. Sebastian Berrios was named hitter of the week after going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI against American Heritage. Pitcher of the week went to Marcelo Rodriguez for throwing three innings of a five-inning three-way no-hitter and striking out four. Their next games are on Tuesday against Trinity Christian Academy and Friday against Stoneman Douglas.
9. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California has a record of 17-5 and is ranked 9th. Last week, they had wins against Farragut and St. John’s, but suffered a loss to Corona. Derek Curiel was named hitter of the week for his impressive performance against Harvard-Westlake, and Gary Morse was named pitcher of the week for his win over Farragut. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday against Mater Dei.
10. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Central (Phenix City, Ala.) had a record of 31-3 last week, including a win over Auburn and a loss to Dothan. Landon Beaver was named hitter of the week for his performance in the 11-5 win, while Jordan Balkum was named pitcher of the week for his six-inning performance in the 3-2 win. Next up, they will be playing against Smiths Station on Wednesday.
11. Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
Parkview in Lilburn, Georgia has a record of 21-4 and is currently ranked 12th. They recently defeated Archer with scores of 8-3, 14-1, and 15-1. Cade Brown hit two home runs in a 14-1 win, tying him for the national lead with 12 homers. Pitcher Thorpe Musci had an impressive nine strikeouts in five innings in an 8-3 win. Their next game is against Brookwood on Monday.
12. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) had an 18-4-1 record last week, ranked 15th. Their recent scores include a 10-2 victory over Key West, a 3-2 win over Casteel, a 3-2 loss to Orange Lutheran, and a 12-9 win over Wesleyan Christian Academy. James Tronstein was named hitter of the week for going 4-for-4 with four runs scored, two RBI, and a home run against Wesleyan. Pitcher of the week Duncan Marsten struck out five in six innings to beat Key West. Their next game is on Tuesday against Loyola.
13. North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.)
North Cobb Christian from Kennesaw, Georgia has a record of 24-2 and was ranked 17th last week. They had some impressive wins, including a 18-0 and 15-0 victory over South Atlanta, an 11-0 and 15-0 win against KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, and a 4-3 win over Southside Christian. Michael Mullanix was named hitter of the week for hitting two home runs and driving in five runs in a game against South Atlanta, while Davis Brown was named pitcher of the week for striking out nine in three no-hit innings against KIPP. Their next game will be on Monday against Walker.
14. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Prestonwood Christian from Plano, Texas has a record of 23-1-1 and was ranked 18th last week. They defeated John Paul II with scores of 1-0 and 6-3. Trent Vilade was the hitter of the week, hitting a home run for the only run in the 1-0 victory. Xavier Mitchell was the pitcher of the week, striking out seven in six innings in the 6-3 win. Their next game is on Tuesday against Parish Episcopal.
15. Tomball (Texas)
Tomball, Texas has a record of 25-3 and is currently ranked 19th. This week, they defeated Klein Forest 10-2 and 11-0, as well as Magnolia 14-3. Cade Arrambide was named hitter of the week for hitting a grand slam in the win over Klein Forest, while Karson Reeder was named pitcher of the week for his performance in the 11-0 win. Their next game is scheduled for April 23rd against Klein Cain.
16. Prosper (Texas)
In Prosper, Texas, the high school baseball team has been performing exceptionally well with a record of 24-4. Last week, they defeated Braswell with scores of 11-1 and 10-0. Hitter of the week, Erick Thompson, contributed significantly with a 3-for-3 performance including a home run and three RBI in the 10-0 win. Pitcher of the week, Micah Melott, gave up no runs on two hits and recorded four strikeouts in the same game. Their next game will be on Tuesday against Allen.
17. Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola, Fla.)
Pensacola Catholic in Pensacola, Florida has an impressive record of 20-1. Last week, they defeated Escambia 11-0, Crestview 11-0, and South Walton 13-2. Chris Rembert was named hitter of the week for his performance against Crestview, and Jackson Kohr was recognized as pitcher of the week for his outstanding game against Crestview. Their next game is on Friday against Escambia.
18. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
The IMG Academy baseball team, based in Bradenton, Florida, currently holds a record of 17-3 and is ranked 13th in the nation. In their most recent games, they defeated Jesuit with a score of 10-0 but suffered a 4-1 loss to Northside Christian. Standout performances included Josh Hanson going 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI against Jesuit, and Noah Franco throwing four no-hit innings with five strikeouts against the same team. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday against Jesuit.
19. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Santa Margarita High School’s baseball team, based in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, currently holds a record of 15-6-1. Last week, they defeated JSerra Catholic with a score of 6-0, lost to JSerra Catholic with a score of 14-1, and then defeated JSerra Catholic again with a score of 3-2. Warren Gravely IV was recognized as hitter of the week after going 3-for-4 with three runs and two doubles in the 14-12 loss. Pitcher of the week, Cade Townsend, struck out 14 in seven innings during a two-hit shutout. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday against Servite.
20. Harlem (Ga.)
The Harlem (Georgia) team has an impressive record of 26 wins and 1 loss. Last week, they were ranked 7th. They defeated Salem with a score of 16-1 but unfortunately lost to Greenbrier with a score of 4-1. Their next game will be on Monday against Morgan County.
21. Grapevine (Texas)
Grapevine, Texas has a record of 25-2 and was not ranked last week. They defeated Denton 3-0 and 10-0, as well as V.R. Eaton 12-2. Sammy Kelley was named hitter of the week for his double and triple in the 12-2 win, while Dasan Hill was named pitcher of the week for striking out 14 and giving up no runs on two hits in a 10-0 win. Their next game is on Tuesday against Argyle.
22. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Barbe High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana has a strong record of 29-5 and had several impressive wins last week, including a 15-0 and 14-0 victory over Elizabeth. Standout player Collin Harris went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored in their 11-0 win. Pitcher Diego Corrales also had a standout performance, allowing no runs on two hits with six strikeouts in the same game. Their next game is scheduled for Friday against Catholic-B.R.
23. Lincoln-Way West (New Lenox, Ill.)
The Lincoln-Way West baseball team from New Lenox, Illinois has an impressive record of 12-0. They recently defeated Sandburg 5-3, Marian Catholic 14-12, Lincoln-Way East 7-1, and Minooka 4-3. In their last game, Lucas Acevedo had an outstanding performance, going 1-for-1 with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored. Pitcher Conor Essenburg also had a great game, striking out 13 batters in five innings with no runs allowed on two hits. Their next game is on Monday against Stagg.
24. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Hamilton High School baseball team in Chandler, Arizona has a record of 18-4 and is currently ranked 24th. Last week, they defeated Perry 16-2, lost to Perry 7-0, defeated Chandler 9-6, and defeated Liberty 8-3. Drew Rogers was named hitter of the week for his performance, going 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, and four RBI in the 16-2 win. Pitcher of the week, A.J. Diaz, struck out seven in six innings to beat Liberty. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday against Chandler.
25. Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.)
Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, had a record of 15-5 last week and is scheduled to play against North Broward Prep on Tuesday and Doral Academy on Friday. Their recent scores include a 15-2 win against Cooper City and a 7-4 win against Flanagan, as well as a 9-6 loss to Columbus. Rylan Lujo was recognized as hitter of the week for going 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI against Cooper City, while Breylynn Courtney was named pitcher of the week for striking out six batters in three innings against Flanagan.
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